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WATER: Fourth 2012 snow survey scheduled for April 2
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct its fourth manual snow survey, Monday, April 2, at 11 a.m. near Echo Summit off Highway 50.
It is expected that manual measurements of snowpack water content will corroborate the low electronic readings from remote sensors up and down the state’s mountain ranges.
Electronic readings on Thursday indicated that statewide, water content in the snowpack is only 51 percent of normal for the date, and 50 percent of the average April 1 measurement when the snowpack is normally at its peak before the spring melt.
Surveyors from DWR and cooperating agencies today will fan out to numerous sites for the fourth of five manual snow surveys made each winter to forecast the amount of frozen water that will trickle into streams, reservoirs and aquifers when the snow melts this spring and early summer.
This winter’s unusually dry conditions to date have principally been caused by a high pressure ridge along California’s coast that has diverted most storms to the north.
One bright spot this year is the state’s good reservoir storage, due to conserved runoff from last winter’s storms.
Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s principal storage reservoir, is at 106 percent of average for the date (82 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity), Lake Shasta north of Redding, the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir with a capacity of 4.5 million acre-feet, is at 99 percent of its normal storage level for the date (81 percent of capacity).
San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, an important storage reservoir south of the Delta, is at 94 percent of average for the date (86 percent of its capacity of 2,027,840 acre-feet).
San Luis is a critically important source of water for both the State Water Project and Central Valley Project when pumping from the Delta is restricted or interrupted.
Statewide, reservoir storage is 106 percent of normal for the date.
Electronic snowpack readings are available on the Internet at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ .
Electronic reservoir level readings may be found at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action .
See DWR’s new Water Conditions page at http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/ .
STATE: Officials arrest 14, seize 1,300 pounds of marijuana in multi-state illegal drug trafficking ring
EDITOR'S NOTE: The second paragraph has been corrected to reflect that silver bars and gold coins – not gold bars and silver coins, as originally reported – were seized as part of the operation.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Thursday announced the arrests of 14 individuals across three states and the seizure of 1,300 pounds of processed marijuana as part of a multi-state illegal drug trafficking ring.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of eight firearms, $415,855 in cash, $35,000 in silver bars and gold coins, and three generators valued at $20,000.
"At the California Department of Justice, our special agents target criminal enterprises running drugs, guns and human beings up and down California," said Attorney General Harris. "In this case, we have shut down a large-scale drug trafficking operation that went beyond California's borders."
On March 8, a California Department of Justice drug task force, the Mountain and Valley Marijuana Investigation Team (MAVMIT), received a tip regarding a large crate being shipped from a private shipping company in West Sacramento to Chicago.
As part of a parcel interdiction investigation, MAVMIT agents recovered approximately 80 pounds of high grade marijuana.
The empty crate was shipped to Chicago, where law enforcement officials followed two individuals, Dillon Hudson and Jon Stansfield, to Milwaukee, WI.
The team arrested the two men and recovered an additional 120 pounds of marijuana and $300,000 in cash.
MAVMIT executed a search warrant on Dillon Hudson's ranch in Placerville and seized 946 pounds of processed marijuana, 2 pounds of hash, 8 firearms, $100,000 in cash, $35,000 in silver bars and gold coins, three generators and two all terrain vehicles.
Hudson and Stansfield were arrested in Milwaukee. Eleven other adults arrested in California were employed to trim and process the marijuana, and were paid $250 to $400 per pound.
Those arrested face felony charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, sales and trafficking of marijuana, conspiracy, and being armed in the commission of a felony, and were booked in the El Dorado County Jail. Hudson and Stansfield were booked in Chicago pending federal charges.
Additionally, a second large ranch in Pilot Hill was identified through the investigation as belonging to the Hudson drug trafficking organization.
Agents served a search warrant at this location, and recovered an indoor marijuana grow and over 73 pounds of processed marijuana and packaging materials for shipping the marijuana.
During the search in Pilot Hill, agents identified Kenneth Hayes as being involved in Hudson's drug trafficking organization.
Hayes was arrested at the Sacramento International Airport by MAVMIT agents without incident upon his return to Sacramento from Wisconsin.
Hayes was arrested on felony charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, sales and trafficking of marijuana, and conspiracy and booked into the El Dorado County Jail.
Also seized were the property in Pilot Hill, with an estimated value of $450,000, the property in Placerville, estimated value $300,000, a condo in Indonesia belonging to Hayes with estimated value $17,000, and several bank accounts.
MAVMIT is seeking federal indictments on the 13 individuals who were arrested. Currently they are being held on state charges at the County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
Fire damages Clearlake home Thursday
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Investigators are assessing the cause of a Thursday morning fire that damaged a Clearlake home.
The fire, which occurred in a single family home in the Meadowbrook Drive area, was first reported at about 6:46 a.m., with firefighters on scene five minutes later, according to Lake County Fire Chief Willie Sapeta.
Four engines, two medic units, a chief and battalion chief responded, with mutual aid from Northshore Fire and South Lake County Fire also called. Sapeta said a total of 20 personnel were on scene.
Firefighters were able to secure two nearby structures that were exposed to the fire, he said.
Downed wires complicated the firefighting effort, Sapeta added.
Sapeta said the fire was contained just after 7:30 a.m.
Sixty percent of the home was damaged, and the residents were displaced. Sapeta said the Red Cross responded to assist with temporary housing.
He said the fire is still under investigation.
“They're still out there processing,” he said of investigators.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
'Lake County Live!' continues celebration of local talent
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The third outing for Lake County Live! proved once again that there is talent galore all around us.
Lake County Live! was performed Sunday, March 25, at the Soper-Reese Theatre in Lakeport to an appreciate audience both in the theater and on the air via Lake County Community Radio KPFZ 88.1 FM.
The show is produced live on stage and broadcast in real time, as well as streamed on the Internet at www.kpfz.org .
Musical guests included Uncorked! a quintet of performers including Don Coffin, Andi Skelton, Eleanor Cook, Dan Harris and Dennis Hadley.
The provided two sets of music, both from Ireland and contemporary folk, as well as traditional tunes that had the audience clapping along and dancing in their seats.
In between their two sets, Andy Rossoff took the stage to perform on the theater's grand piano with several songs that included the audience with singing.
Uncorked returned to close the show with another signature part of the program, a sing-along.
Cast and audience joined together in the night’s final song, “Goodnight, Irene.”
Lake County Live! was conceived by Doug Rhoades, who is the show’s producer and host.
The show features music, comedy, audience participation and lots of humor.
Several running features include the “Dogs of Clearlake” and “Ladies of the Lake.”
Cast members for these and other sketches amidst the music include Richard Smith, Suna Flores, Pam Bradley, Kris Andre, Vicky Parish Smith, Mitchell Hauptman and Nick Reid, who also acts as the show’s stage manager.
Backstage assistance was provided by Donna Herndon, Jane Ruggles, Nancy Rhoades, Mike Stempe and Nick Biondo.
Lake County Live! is performed and broadcast from the Soper-Reese Community Theatre on the last Sunday of each month at 6 p.m.
Next month’s show will feature Three Deep, a county/folk trio, the flamenco guitar duo Austin and Owens, and the keyboard talent of David Neft.
Tickets for the performance on April 29 are available at the theater box office, open Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and at the Travel Center in Lakeport.
The program is supported by the theater, KPFZ, and Lake County News at www.lakeconews.com .
For more information on the program, performers and sponsorship, visit www.lakecountylive.com or go to www.facebook.com/lakecountylive .
